Jimmy Savile could have abused ‘hundreds more victims’

Jimmy Savile could have perpetrated double the number of abuses he is accused of, a child protection expert has claimed following the release of a report that labels the entertainer a ‘prolific and predatory sex offender’.

Mark Williams-Thomas, the presenter of an ITV documentary that helped expose Savile, suggested there could be hundreds more victims.

‘For anybody who works in this area, the sheer scale is quite shocking,’ he said. ‘When you deal with sex offenders they are quite specific in their targeting.

‘What is different with Savile is that there’s no specific target in terms of ages or sexes.

‘He ranged from male to female, children to adults. It’s truly shocking.’

Meanwhile a report into the scandal revealed the disgraced TV presenter could have faced charges in 2009 over four separate sexual assault allegations ‘had the police and prosecutors taken a different approach’.

The sheer scale of his sex abuse was ‘unprecedented in the UK’, according to the report published today, with Savile accused of using his celebrity status to take advantage of his vulnerable victims.

‘It is now clear that Savile was hiding in plain sight and using his celebrity status and fund-raising activity to gain uncontrolled access to vulnerable people across six decades,’ it said.

Savile report: ‘Giving Victims a Voice’ (Picture: AFP)

His victims included dying hospice patients and children, with 214 criminal offences now recorded against him across 28 police forces.

The age of his victims were between eight and 47 years old, with 73 per cent of them under the age of 18.

A total of 450 people have come forward alleging sexual abuse against the former Top of the Pops host since October, with 34 rapes and 126 indecent acts recorded, the police and NSPCC report said.

‘The sheer scale of Savile’s abuse over six decades simply beggars belief,’ said Peter Watt of the NSPCC.

‘He is without doubt one of the most prolific sex offenders we have ever come across and every number represents a victim that will never get justice now he is dead.

‘But with this report we can at least show his victims that they have been taken seriously and their suffering has been recognised.’

He added: ‘It’s clear Savile cunningly built his entire life into gaining access to vulnerable children.’

The TV presenter abused his victims over four decades at institutions including hospices, hospitals, prisons and the BBC.

At least four people reported Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, to police while he was still alive but their allegations were not linked and he escaped prosecution.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer apologised for the failings of the Crown Service Prosecution (CPS) in exposing Savile.

‘I would like to take the opportunity to apologise for the shortcomings in the part played by the CPS in these cases,’ he said.

‘If this report and my apology are to serve their full purpose, then this must be seen as a watershed moment.’

Savile is suspected of raping more than 30 young people.

The 30-page report, called Giving Victims A Voice, was prompted by TV revelations last October of Savile’s serial offending.

Jimmy Savile died in 2011 aged 84 (Picture: BBC)

The findings found police and other bodies including the NHS failed in their dealings with Savile over several decades.

Trevor Sterling, lawyer for 45 of Savile’s victims, said: ‘The victims have had a very difficult time because all of this has been so public, and that has to some extent compounded their sense of distress.

‘But the inquiry has been handled sensitively by the police and the victims feel this report marks an enormous release because they have been able to tell their stories and to be believed.’

Probe: Scotland Yard (Picture: Getty)

The findings are expected to widen the Department of Health’s own inquiry into Savile’s activities at NHS properties such as Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.

‘It is very clear that Savile assaulted very young children and that he was a prolific paedophile, there is no doubt about that,’ NSPCC’s John Cameron told The Guardian.

‘We want this to mark a cultural shift so that if a child speaks out about someone, we take what they are saying seriously and we act upon it always in future.’

Detectives for Operation Yewtree have so far questioned 10 people relating to three separate strands of the inquiry: allegations involving Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others.

Those arrested include comedians Jim Davidson and Freddie Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis and PR guru Max Clifford. They have all since been bailed.